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Saturday, 30 June 2012

More
than 5,000 cyclists from all over the world are in Tarascon this
weekend for the annual gruelling races along Ariege mountain passes.

The youngest riders taking part were 12 yrs. old and there were 2 riders who were 84 yrs. young!

Fortunately there was cloud cover with a temperature of only 25 degs.

L'Arrivée of the shortest race (69 kms.) in Place Garrigou. The 120 km. and 170 km. races finish after a long climb to Plateau de Beille. Quel défi! Bravo les Gars!

The musical accompaniment by these two jeunes hommes playing traditional French and Spanish wellknown melodies contrasted interestingly to the funky dance music being blasted out just a few metres away on the other side of the square!

Friday, 29 June 2012

Thanks for a great DesignMatters TV programme on quilted bags Laura! www.lindakemshall.com

Coincidentally, that's what I've been working on lately.

Some of the above are previous samples looking for a purpose in life, others I made specifically for this project. There are both rectangles (humbug bags) and squares, some with zip closures others left open and secured towards the top and bottom to keep the bag 'in shape'. I've used hand dyes, Batik and discharged fabric with a mixture of free motion and guided machine stitching along with hand stitching and painting. The lizard shape has crept in there of course and there's a mono print too, left over from a printing session quite some time ago.

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Isn't nature wonderful!

I see all sorts of interesting sights on my walks around Tarascon!

If my research is right this is a Western Whip snake or Couleuvre Vert et Jaune, recognisable by its prominent eyes with round pupils, transversal dashes on the body changing to longitudinal towards the tail. It can grow up to 2 mtrs. long and is non-venimous but care should be taken if you do come across one. They bite and are very quick and agile!

Friday, 8 June 2012

I really love how this pair of cushions have turned out. They are a commission to match a recent wallhanging I did. The central lizard shape surrounded by 'pebbles' has been quilted and then hand painted with Jacquard Lumiere fabric paints. The background fabric and Batik strip insert match the wallhanging. I've used close free motion quilting to create a durable, textured finish,

Trying to photograph them, they did tend to slide off my leather sofa!

Thursday, 7 June 2012

This is a recently completed commission.

A pieced wallhanging with six co-ordinating reversible cushions using discharged and commercial red and black cotton fabrics. I used a close quilting pattern to create durability and to 'marry' the items visually.